Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio is the Archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, who has had a special focus on social solidarity, ecological conversion, and peace-making.

Born on March 3, 1962, in San Gil, Santander, he was the tenth of eleven siblings. Before entering the priesthood, Rueda Aparicio worked with his father in construction, newspaper sales, and a cement factory.

Rueda Aparicio completed his philosophical studies at the major seminary of San Carlos in San Gil and theological studies at the major seminary in Bucaramanga. He was ordained priest on November 23, 1989, for the Diocese of Socorro y San Gil. He furthered his education by obtaining a licentiate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome.

From 1990 to 1992, he served as a parish priest in Albania (now the diocese of Vélez) and Curití, after which he was sent to the Alphonsian Academy in Rome. Rueda Aparicio later served as parish priest in other locations, as well as seminary rector, a post he held for six years. He also held administrative roles within his diocese.

In February 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Montelíbano. Pope Francis later promoted him to Archbishop of Popayán in 2018 and then to Archbishop of Bogotá in 2020.

In September 2023, Rueda Aparicio was elevated him to the rank of cardinal, making him the 11th cardinal in Colombia’s history. On 6 July 2021 he was elected president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference for the three-year period 2021-2024.

Rueda Aparicio has been a vocal supporter of peace initiatives in Colombia. He has consistently backed the peace agreement of 2016 between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, and has spoken out against the assassination of social leaders. He has been actively involved in supporting government negotiations with guerrilla groups, viewing these efforts as part of the Church’s mission to foster peace.

He views his role as a cardinal as an opportunity to bring Colombia’s Church experience to the Sacred College and promote “missionary communion” within the global Church.

In his leadership roles, Rueda Aparicio has emphasized the importance of social justice and ecology. He dedicated the year 2020 as the archdiocese’s “Year of Fraternity” to promote social solidarity and ecological conversion.

Cardinal Rueda has emphasized the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Catholic faithful. In his first Eucharist as cardinal, celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica, he stressed the importance of having a living relationship with the heavenly Father, resembling Christ, having His feelings and seeking to act and think like Him every day.

Recalling the words of Pope Francis, Cardinal Rueda pointed out the importance of being like a symphony orchestra that plays a single melody despite differences, articulating rather than comparing.

He has also highlighted the importance of silence in liturgical and spiritual life, and stressed the need to cultivate silence in order to listen to the voice of God, to others and to ourselves.

Cardinal Rueda has demonstrated a deep appreciation for fraternity within the Church, and has expressed gratitude for the gestures of spiritual fraternity, considering them an expression of the unity of the entire Colombian Church.

He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Synod on Synodality, describing it as “a beautiful moment, a magnificent moment, a kairós, a time of salvation.”